Being Harassed by Santander Bank - Absolutely Disgusted

[NameChanger22]

A few weeks ago I started a thread on here about how Santander Bank kept repeatedly sending the mail of an ex-boyfriend to my address, even though we split up and he moved out 12 years ago, died 2 years ago and I have repeatedly sent mail back to them for 12 years and I have phoned them and made complaints about it twice. He owed them £1,200. He owed everyone money, he owed me a lot more than £1,200.

In the end I went into to my local branch and showed them my council tax bills for the last 6 years proving he hadn’t been living at my address for a long time as all the bills were addressed to me alone and I have the 25% single person discount.

A week ago I got a letter from Santander (addressed to me) saying I was wrong to complain but that they weren’t going to send anymore mail to my address.

Today I got a letter from Santander (addressed to The Personal Representative of the Late [ex boyfriend’s name]). First of all I’m not his representative, so that annoyed me. The letter went on to read:

“At this difficult time, customer care is obviously the main priority and I therefore wanted to advise you that we have referred the above mentioned account to our specialist probate partner, Phillips & Cohen Associates (UK) Ltd.

Until further notice, Phillips & Cohen Associates (UK) Ltd will be responsible for managing this account on our behalf, and where appropriate will take steps to come to an amicable arrangement for the repayment of the outstanding balance from any existing estate.
All future communications should be directed to Phillips & Cohen Associates (UK) Ltd in the first instance ….”

I cannot believe a bank can do this. They said a week ago they would stop sending post to my address and then this. I am extremely worried about this. Can they really get another company to come after me for the debt of a dead ex-boyfriend who hasn’t lived at my address for 12 years. I just don’t understand this at all. Please help and stop me from panicking, especially advise me if you have any real understanding of the law.

Thanks so much.

[Fudgenugget]

I am sorry you are going through this. I have no advice but to maybe go to Citizens Advice to find out where you stand. But I hope others can help you more.

[NameChanger22]

I will got to Citizens Advice. I just don't want to worry about it all weekend. I have no idea how a bank can get away with this. I am not Santander's customer, I never have been and I never will be. To me this is very shocking.

[FudgeBrownie2019]

Can they really get another company to come after me for the debt of a dead ex-boyfriend who hasn’t lived at my address for 12 years. I just don’t understand this at all.

No. They can send stupid letters and try to pretend it's legally acceptable to chase you for another person's debts, but you've done all you needed to do and I'd agree that you need to see the CAB and take this further.

[Merrymumoftwo]

A family member whose partner died owing money a few years ago was told that as not married they had no claim to her assets. Could citizens advice assist with writing what would amount to a cease and desist letter?

[Knittedfairies]

As you've tried to resolve this with the bank and got nowhere, perhaps your next step is to contact the Financial Ombudsman service

[Merrymumoftwo]

Is there also an option of banking ombudsman and embarrassing them on their Twitter account or emailing their CEO?

[CoffeeRunner]

Please don’t worry about this OP. It is not your debt & they have nothing to tell them otherwise.

Personally, I would write to the solicitor explaining what you have explained here. They should then close the matter - as they should have 2 years ago when your ex passed away.

[NameChanger22]

I will do everything I can next week. I just wanted to shop worrying this weekend. I'm actually shaking as I write this. This has been going on for 12 years now, with it ending in this. Santander Bank are basically abusive crooks.

[twattymctwatterson]

If you complained and they responded you'll have ombudsman rights on your letter. Take it direct to them

[NameChanger22]

As Santander have obviously sold my ex's debt to another company I am a little bit reluctant to get in touch with this company in case they are just as bad. I can't believe I have to deal with this headache. It is causing me a lot of stress and worry.

[NameChanger22]

I have never had any kind of debt. This is not my debt, it's nothing to do with me. I will contact Citizens Advice and the Financial Ombudsman on Monday, but I won't stop worrying about it. I don't know how to stop worrying about it. It seem to keep escalating.

[HotChocolateLover]

You have nothing to worry about if you weren’t married. They’re just chancing their arm and if it was me i’d Just rip up the letters.

[Userplusnumbers]

To be honest, this is probably a good thing - the solicitor will take one look at the case and wonder why the hell they're contacting you.

In the meantime, you can probably make a complaint to the information commissioner as they are not maintaining your data adequately.

[Princessmushroom]

Hi, I think I commented on your previous thread.

My mum died owing a lot of money with no estate. Long story short we didn’t pay a penny for her debts. You won’t be liable

[Funnyface1]

I just wanted to say that I remember your other thread and that was bad enough. This new turn of events is disgraceful. I don't have any experience with something like this but I feel absolutely certain that they cannot go after an ex who hasn't lived with or had any type of relationship with for so many years. Definitely get onto cab, at this rate you'll be able to go after the bank for harassment. Try to keep calm, it will be ok.

[NameChanger22]

Thanks for your help. I am trying not to worry. I do worry a lot, a lot has gone wrong in my life and I don't deal with stressful situations easily.

[Toomanystorieslost]

I'd be tempted to shame them on Twitter actually.
I would tweet them publically @santanderukhelp

'Sandander why are you trying to chase me for the debt of my ex boyfriend who I split with 12 years ago and have no financial link with. Especially when he died a decade after our separation.

Or similar.

I would write to Phillips & Cohen Associates (UK) Ltd tell them you have been separated 12 years and are not his personal representative.

[wafflyversatile]

They can't get you to pay. Sorry you've been made to worry. That really is disgraceful.

As above get some advice on the best way to stop this.

[KittiKat]

Exactly have others have said IGNORE. Write to the Financial Omnibusman office and detail in a letter to them what is happening. They will take you very seriously and stop all this nonsense. You may well be awarded compensation, not guaranteed but let's see.

Unless you were named as a signatory on any debts your EX had and it was not secured on your property, they do not have a leg to stand on.

[GPatz]

Bit rich of Santander to tell you 'all future communications should be directed to Phillips & Cohen Associates (UK) Ltd' when they can't even sort out where there own communications need to go.

[Horsemenoftheaclopalypse]

Santander are scummers.
I was card frauded (they got my pin over my shoulder about 8 years ago) Santander couldn’t have cared less and left me £3k in the hole, charging me interest on an overdraft I had had already asked them to remove from my account )
I was earning ~£2k pm and had about £5k taken.
HSBC thankfully refunded me in 24 hours so I could actually pay my rent...!!!
But It took 3 months to get the money back from Santander and even when I did and tried closed the account they cocked it up. They closed the account before transferring the balance which meant I had to try and get to a branch during work hours which was a nightmare.

In summary - They are scumbags and you have my sympathy.

Give them nothing you at eunder no obligation

[Fudgenugget]

Keep as much of the paperwork as possible though. Don’t throw anything away.

[Catanddogmake6]

OP, you are not liable for this debt. Do not worry over the weekend. The letter isn’t meant for you in the sense that you are not in any way shape or form dealing with the estate of your ex. The reality is there probably isn’t any estate or money but even if there was you do not have it and are not responsible for it. What they are trying to do is track down who would be responsible for it although frankly why after so much time for so little is beyond me as they will spend money doing so with little likelihood of getting it. When winding up an estate of someone who has died, the person doing it must first pay off debts before distributing any money. If the person dies with no money then the debts die with them (although unscrupulous people might try it on with the family). However this all has nothing to do with you. Sadly yours is the last known address the bank has for him and they are trying it. Have a look at the financial ombudsman’s website and see about making a complaint.

[Catanddogmake6]

One thing I would say is do a credit check with Experian and the like. Just google - they are usually free but no more than £2 if you pay. If Santander are being so incompetent they may have marked your credit file with this debt. If so ask for help in getting it removed at the same time as you make them stop writing to you.

[Amongstthetallgrass]

The can not chase you for his debt. Don’t worry about it